Hand stamp container



C. E. RITTER HAND STAMP CONTAINER Filed June 13, 1963 Dec. 8, 1964 m llll-gfn-Llllll INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,169,271 HAND STAB ii tIQNTAZlNER Ch rles E. Ritter, Des Plaines, ilk, assignor to Weber Marking Systems, Rue, a. corporation of Tiiinois Filed June 13, 1963, Ser. No. 237,629 7 Claims. (65. Zed-47) handle-carried ink reservoir attached to the pad portion of the hand stamp.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent upon a perusal of the following specification and the drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a hand stamp and container constructed according to the invention with the container shown in cross-section;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of a portion of the structure shown in FIGURE 1.

The present embodiment is the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that changes can be made in the present embodiment by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Generally, the present invention comprises the combination of a pre-inked hand stamp and a container for the storage or shipment thereof. ,Tne pre-inked hand stamp comprises a generally flat frame portion carrying a pad on the underside thereof, with a handle secured to upstand from the center of the frame. The pad which depends from the frame is pie-inked. The handle comprises a flexible bottle carrying ink therein to replenish the ink in the pad after use of the ink initially supplied in the pad.

The container comprises a relatively shallow tray, the inner depth of which is substantially equal to the thickness of the frame and pad means of the hand stamp. The

inner length and width of the container is substantially equal to the length and Width of the frame of the hand stamp so that the frame and pad means of the hand stamp is insertable into the container in a close-itting relationship. The opening between the inner side walls of the container and the marginal edge of the frame of the hand stamp is sealed by a tape member. One end of the tape member is provided with a tab permitting the easy re moval of the tape from the hand stamp and container. By virtue of the sealing function of the tape member, the hand stamp may be stored or shipped with no leakage of ink from the pre-inked pad. Further, after the tape has been removed, the hand stamp may be repeatedly used and replaced in the container with substantially no evaporation of fluids from the pre-inked pad means due to the substantially enclosing configuration of the container about the pad means.

The flexible bottle handle which contains ink for replenishing the pad means is generally provided with a valve at the lower end of the bottle which operates to permit ink to flow from the bottle into the pad means when the secured to the underside of the frame.

3,11%,27 i Patented Dec. 8, 1964 "Ice flexible bottle handle ismanually compressed. The resiliency of the flexible bottle handle may be used to further maintain the seal of the tape by partially compressing the flexible bottle handle such as shown in FIGURE 1 before the tape is applied. After the tape is applied and the flexible bottle handle released, the tape will be drawn downwardly of the opening between the side marginal edges of the frame of the hand stamp and the container due to the slight negative pressure of the air within the frame and the pad means caused by the tendency of the partially compressed flexible bottle handle to regain its natural shape.

In detail, the hand stamp comprises a frame assembly 1% and a flexible bottle handle 11. comprises a rectangular frame having four depending side walls. A bottle adapter 12 is secured to the upper side of the frame at the center thereof, and through suitable valve means (not shown), the bottle adapter 12 communicates with the underside of the frame. The bottle adapter 12 is provided with any suitable construction for the sealed connection of the bottle 11 thereto.

The flexible bottle handle 11 may be formed in any convenient shape of a somewhat resilient material such as an appropriate plastic.

The underside of the frame of the frame assembly 10 is provided with a weir or ink distributor assembly which is made of a member 13 and a member 14. The member 13 may be formed of a material such as rubber and is The member 13 is provided with a number of depending ribs, the purpose of which is to evenly distribute any ink received from the bottle adapter 12 over the upper surface of the member 14. The member 14 is provided with a plurality of holes I 15 therethrough. The holes 15 are spaced between the 1 underside thereof in an even pattern. A porous flexible pad 16 is carried on the underside of the member 14. A cloth member 17 is disposed over the pad 16 and secured about the side Walls of the member 14. The assembly of the member 14, the pad 16, and the cloth 17 is secured to the underside of the frame by a pair of thumb screws 18. It is intended that the pad 16 carry a substantial quantity of ink therein for application through some suitable medium such as a stencil to some object or paper to be marked. As the ink in the pad 16 is used, it may be replenished by a suitable compression of the flexible bottle handle 11 to feed more ink into the pad 16.

The container 20 of the present invention comprises a rectangular bottom wall of a length and width substantially equal to the length and width of the frame of the assembly 1% and four integrally formed side walls extending upwardly therefrom. The upper end of the side walls of the container 2% are provided with outwardly extending extending shoulders. The height of the side walls of the container 20 is substantially equal to the thickness of the frame assembly 14} measured between the upper side of the frame member thereof and the underside of the cloth member 17. Thus it may be seen that the frame assembly 1G is insertable in the container 20 with the upper side of the frame of the assembly 1t} positioned in substantially the plane defined by the upper surface of the side walls and shoulders of the container 29.

A tape member 21 is provided for effectively sealing the frame assembly 10 within the container 20. The tape 21 may be formed of any suitable substantially impervious material such as a plastic, and the underside thereof is coated with a suitable adhesive or cement. The tape 21 The frame assembly is substantially rectangular in-shape with the center thereof being open and is provided at one end thereof with. an integral tab 22. When the tape 21 is applied to the container and the frame assembly it it extends across the space between the side marginal edges of the frame assembly and the side walls of the container 24). The tape 21 extends from the shoulders of the side walls of the container 2%} over the upper surfaces thereof and a substantial distance over the upper surface of the'frame of the assembly 10.

With the aforedescribed arrangement, the pre-inked pad 16 is completely sealed against leakage during the storage or shipment of the hand stamp. Preparatory to use, the tape 21 is removed from the hand stamp and the container 2% by means of the tab 22 whichmay be manually grasped and pulled to remove the-tape 21.

Air pressure may also be used to aid in effectively sealing the opening between the side marginal edges of the frame assembly 1% and thecontainer 20, by partially compressing the flexible bottle 11 before the tape 21 is applied. The partially compressed bottle 11 helps to insure against accidental leakage during shipment, since if a small leak should occur through or under the tape 21, Y

air will seep through that leak into-the hand stamp rather than the seepage of ink from the hand stamp.

Having described the invention what is considered new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In a storing and shipping arrangement for a hand stamp, a hand stamp comprising a frame with a generally flat upper surface and an upwardly extending handle in substantially the center thereof, an open top container having an interior shape substantially conforming to the shape of said frame and receiving said frame therein with said handle extending upwardly therefrom, said open top container having a generally horizontally disposed peripheral flange externally of; the interiorand at the top thereof, said peripheral flange being in substantial planar alignment with the fiat upper surface of said hand stamp frame, and a sealing tape member secured over the planar aligned upper surface of said frame and the peripheral flange of said container to seal all portions of said frame below the upper surface thereof within the interior of said container.

2. In a storing and shipping arrangement for a hand stamp, a hand stamp comprising a rectangular frame having pro-inked pad means depending therefrom, said rectangular frame having a generally flat upper surface and a handle extending upwardly from said flat upper surface, a container comprising a rectangular bottom wall of a length and width substantially equal to the length and width of said frame and side walls extending upwardly therefrom, said container having a generally horizontally disposed peripheral flange at the top of said side walls,

said peripheral flange being in substantial planar alignment with the flat upper surface of said rectangular frame, I

said frame and said pad means disposed in said container with saidihandle extending upwardly therefrom, and a sealing tape member secured over the upper surface of said frame and the peripheral flanges at the top of said side walls of said container to seal said pad means within said container.

3. In a storing and shipping arrangement for a hand stamp as defined in claim 2, wherein said sealing tape member is substantially rectangular in shape with an open center, and a projecting tab is integrally formed with said tape member and extends outwardly over the peripheral flange at the top of said side Walls of said container;

4. In a storing and shipping arrangement for a hand stamp, a hand stamp comprising a rectangular frame having depending side walls, said frame being formed of a material impervious to ink, pad means secured to said frame to depend therefrom, said pad means being preinked, a bottle adapter carried on the upper side of said frame and sealed thereto, a bottle handle carried in said bottle adapter with said bottle handle extending upwardly therefrom in an overturned position, said bottle handle being formed of. a resilient material adapted to permit any fluid in said bottle handle to be ejected through said bottle adapter and said frame and into said pad means responsive to a manual compression of said bottle handle, a quantity of ink carried in said bottle handle, a container formed of a material impervious to ink, said container comprising a rectangular bottom wall of a length and Width substantially equal to the length and width of said frame, side walls integrally formed on said bottom wall to extend upwardly therefrom, an outwardly extending shoulder formed'on the upper end of said side walls, the height of said side walls of said container being such that when said frame and saidpad means are disposed in said container, the upper surface of said frame is substantially in the plane defined by the upper surface of said side walls and said shoulder ofsaid container, a rectangular open center tape member secured on the upper surface of said side walls and said shoulder of said container and extending over the marginal edge portions of the upper surface-of said frame to seal all portions of said frame below the upper surface thereof within said container.

5. In a storing and shipping arrangement for a hand stamp, a hand stamp comprising a frame and a resilient bottle handle secured to. upstand from said frame in an inverted position with the interior of said bottle handle communicating with the underside of said frame, an open top container having an interior shape substantially conforming to the shape of said frame and receiving said frame therein with said bottle handle extending upwardly therefrom, a sealing tape member secured between the upper surfaces of said frame and said container to seal all portions of said frame below the upper surface thereof within said container, and said bottle handle being partially evacuated so that the underside of said frame Within said container is-under a negative pressure.

6. In a storing and shipping arrangement for a hand stamp, a hand stamp comprising a rectangular frame having a pre-inked pad depending therefrom and a resilient bottle handle secured to upstand from said frame in an inverted position with the interior of said bottle handle communicating with said pad through said frame, a container comprising a rectangular bottom wall of a length and width substantially equal to the length and width of said frame and side walls extending upwardly therefrom, said frame and said pad disposed in said container with said bottle handle extending upwardly therefrom, a sealing tape member secured between the upper surfaces of said frame and said side walls of said container to seal said pad within said container, and said bottle handle being partially evacuated so that the underside of said frame and said pad are under a negative pressure to further secure said tape member between the upper surfaces of said frame and sad side walls of said container.

7. in a storing and shipping arrangement for a hand stamp, a hand stamp comprising a rectangular frame having depending side Walls, said frame being formed of a material imprevious to fluids, pad means secured to said frame to depend therefrom, said pad means being preinked, a bottle adapter carried on the upper side of said frame and sealed thereto, a bottle handle carried in said bottle adapter with said bottle handle extending upwardly therefrom in an inverted position, said bottle handle being formed of a resilient material adapted to permit any fluid in said bottle handle to be ejected through said bottle adapter and said frame and into said pad means responsive to a manual compression of said bottle handle, a quantity of ink partially filling said bottle handle, a container formed of a material impervious to fluids, said container comprising a rectangular bottom wall of a length and width substantially equal to the length and Width of said frame, side walls integrally formed on said bottom wall to extend upwardly therefrom, an outwardly extending shoulder formed on the upper end of said side walls, the height of said side walls of said container being 5 such that when said frame and said pad means are disposed in said container the upper surface of said flame is substantially in the plane defined by the upper surface of said side Walls and said shoulder of said container, a

rectangular open-center tape member adhesively secured on the upper surface of said side Walls and said shoulder of said container and extending over the marginal edge portions of the upper surface of said frame to seal all portions of said frame below the upper surface thereof Within said container, and said bottle handle being partially evacuated of air so that the interior of said container below the upper surface of said frame is under negative air pressure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS Melven sea. 28, 1897 Ludde May 13, 1902 Homire Nov, 16, 1909 Hetft Nov. 21, 1933 Thorn-as Aug. 11, 1936 Gordon June 29, 1948 Kircher Oct. 28, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain H June 10, 1937 

4. IN A STORING AND SHIPPING ARRANGEMENT FOR A HAND STAMP, A HAND STAMP COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR FRAME HAVING DEPENDING SIDE WALLS, SAID FRAME BEING FORMED OF A MATERIAL IMPERVIOUS TO INK, PAD MEANS SECURED TO SAID FRAME TO DEPEND THEREFROM, SAID PAD MEANS BEING PREINKED, A BOTTLE ADAPTER CARRIED ON THE UPPER SIDE OF SAID FRAME AND SEALED THERETO, A BOTTLE HANDLE CARRIED IN SAID BOTTLE ADAPTER WITH SAID BOTTLE HANDLE EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM IN AN OVERTURNED POSITION, SAID BOTTLE HANDLE BEING FORMED OF A RESILIENT MATERIAL ADAPTED TO PERMIT ANY FLUID IN SAID BOTTLE HANDLE TO BE EJECTED THROUGH SAID BOTTLE ADAPTER AND SAID FRAME AND INTO SAID PAD MEANS RESPONSIVE TO A MANUAL COMPRESSION OF SAID BOTTLE HANDLE, A QUANTITY OF INK CARRIED IN SAID BOTTLE HANDLE, A CONTAINER FORMED OF A MATERIAL IMPERVIOUS TO INK, SAID CONTAINER COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR BOTTOM WALL OF A LENGTH AND WIDTH SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE LENGTH AND WIDTH OF SAID FRAME, SIDE WALLS INTEGRALLY FORMED ON SAID BOTTOM WALL TO EXTEND UPWARDLY THEREFROM, AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING SHOULDER FORMED ON THE UPPER END OF SAID SIDE WALLS, THE HEIGHT OF SAID SIDE WALLS OF SAID CONTAINER BEING SUCH THAT WHEN SAID FRAME AND SAID PAD MEANS ARE DISPOSED IN SAID CONTAINER, THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID FRAME IS SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE PLANE DEFINED BY THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID SIDE WALLS AND SAID SHOULDER OF SAID CONTAINER, A RECTANGULAR OPEN CENTER TAPE MEMBER SECURED ON THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID SIDE WALLS AND SAID SHOULDER OF SAID CONTAINER AND EXTENDING OVER THE MARGINAL EDGE PORTIONS OF THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID FRAME TO SEAL ALL PORTIONS OF SAID FRAME BELOW THE UPPER SURFACE THEREOF WITHIN SAID CONTAINER. 